{
  "id": 6390206,
  "title": "Manufacturing sales grew at a slower pace in July, but employment edged up",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/manufacturing-sales-grew-at-a-slower-pace-in-july-but-employment",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T05:54:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/business/economy/2026/09/1528928/manufacturing-sales-grew-slower-pace-july-employment-edged"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia's manufacturing sector experienced a modest 9.1% year-on-year growth in sales value to RM177.3 billion in July 2026, with the electrical and electronics sub-sector leading the charge. However, the sector's sales value only increased by 0.2% month-on-month, a slower rate compared to the 9.8% growth seen in June. The E&E products sub-sector alone contributed to a 17.8% YoY increase in sales. Meanwhile, the food, beverages, and tobacco sub-sector saw a strong 3.9% expansion, up from 2.2% in June. The petroleum, chemical, rubber, and plastic sub-sector also posted growth of 3.6%. Export-oriented industries drove the manufacturing sales value growth, recording a 9.9% increase from a year ago, while domestic industries' growth slowed to 7.2% YoY. The export-oriented industry contributed 72.2% of the total value in July. The growth was driven by computer, electronic, and optical products, which rose 19%, followed by machinery and equipment at 17.8% YoY. The manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products expanded by 3.3%. On the employment front, the number of manufacturing sector employees rose by 1.1% year-on-year to 2.4 million in July, with the food, beverages, and tobacco sub-sector leading the growth at 2.2%. Non-metallic mineral products, basic metal, and fabricated metal products sub-sectors also saw an increase of 1.9% YoY, compared to 1.6% in June. The E&E products sub-sector contributed to a 1.3% growth. On a monthly basis, manufacturing employment increased by 0.1%, reversing a 0.2% decline seen in June. Salaries and wages paid in the sector grew by 2.8% year-on-year to RM8.55 billion in July, a slight dip from the 0.5% decline in June. Sales value per employee rose 7.9% YoY to RM73,188, and average salaries and wages per employee increased by 1.7% to RM3,527. Over the first seven months of 2026, manufacturing employment increased by 1.1% year-on-year to 2.4 million, while salaries and wages paid rose by 2.7% to RM60.1 billion. Sales value per employee also climbed by 6.4% to RM496,792.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s manufacturing sector recorded a 9.1 per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase in sales value to RM177.3 billion in July 2026, driven mainly by the electrical and electronics (E&E) products sub-sector.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}